Shelf reacher



Nov. 28, 1939. PEDERSEN 2,181,520 7 I SHELF'REACHER Filed Oct. 29, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR ATTORNEY Nov. 28, 1939 J. PEDERSEN 2,131,520

SHELF REACHER Filed Oct. 29, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet? Patented Nov. 28, 1939:

UNITED STATES FATENIT QFFIQE I a 2,1s1,5 2o V i Q i l I I EL A H- R Julius Pedersen, Bridgeport, Conn. Applimuonoctoberzs, 1937,.Serial No. 171,659

- 17 Claims.

This invention relates to shelf reachers of the type'characterized by having a pair of jaws mounted pivotally near one end of a staff of the desired length, usually of suitable length for reaching articles on the upper shelves of a store,

and also havlnga handle or handles mounted pivo'ially at a part of the staff convenient for manipulation, and having a connecting wire or rod between the jaws and handle, to'permit manipulation of the jaws. I v I An example of such a shelfreacher is that forming the subject matter of United States Letters Patent No. 1,350,331, and is characterized by having the jaws spring-biased to an open posi-v 5; tion, ready for convenient application to the an ticle to be moved, this being a normal .andeiiective gripping movement of the users hand.

This is probably the most Widely distributed type of shelf reacher, but there are other known 20 types, one of which-is characterized by having somewhat similarly pivoted jaws, these jaws being, however, spring-biased to closed position, so that the manual operation isone in which the handle is operated to open the jaws, and is released to permit the spring to become effective to cause gripping action of the jaws.

Provision is usually made for hanging up the shef reacher when not in use, a hook for this purpose being part of the subject-matter disclosed in my aforesaid Letters Patent. -,Such hooks have been heretofore extended in a direction" diametrically opposite to the jaws, which extend forward a relatively to the staff, to compensate for the angular positionnaturally given to the staff in use. The handle is customarily extended in the some direction as the jaws, for the reason that the fingers of a user can most readily grasp the handle when the latter is so disposed.

Under such conditions, when a'shelf. reacher of either'of the conventional-types characterized, as above setforth', by a hook projecting from what may be called the back of the staff, is hung up on the front edge of one of the shelves, it will be evident that the handle will stick out into 4 the narrow passageway. betweenthe shelves and the counter, and is much in the way of the clerks, a condition which becomes aggravated in proportion to the activity ofthe personnel, so that the reachers, when dislodged, not only add to the 50 confusion incidental to busy service, but may actually cause accidents, with damage to 'the goods and injuries to theclerks.

' A principal object of the present invention is to provide novel hanging. means for shelf reachers,

5s0 disposed as toavoidtheabove disadvantages *users fingers on the staii.

in use while aifording an even more convenient and satisfactory device for the intended purpose than the hooks conventionally used...

Another object of the invention is to provide hanging means so characterized as to be equally servic'eablegwhen formed as an integral part of one'or both of the jaws in any of the better-known types of shelf, reachers, or asa part'of, or attachment to, someother member of the shelf reacher;

and also so formed as to be capable of supplementing the existing hanging devices, as well as supplanting them, thus providing a hanging means'of more universal adaptability than the conventional hook.- I

Still another-object of the invention is to pro- 5.

vide a means for more serviceable manipulation of a shelf reacher, whatever the type, but more particularlyof the various types embodying a pivoted lever handle such as'thos'e to which reference has been made above. invention is directed especially to the provision ofmeans for affording positive support to the staif of the shelf reacher'at-times when the grip of the user upon the operating handlehas been released, and when the attention of the-user is 25'- necessarily directed to catching and handling the article removed from the shelves by the reacher; A cognate object is to provide an auxiliary means for engaging the users hand so that the weight of the staff and. any heavy article supported by the 30- s'taif is not borne entirely by the grip of the Otherobjects and advantages "will appear as the description of the particular physical embodiment selected to illustrate theinvention pro- 35 gresses, and the novel features will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In describing the invention'in' detail and the particular physical embodiment selected to illustrate the invention, reference will be had to the 40* accompanying drawings and the several views thereon, in which like characters of reference designate like parts throughout the several views, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation of a shelf ,reacher in the: construction of which the invention has been embodied; I

Fig. 2 is aifragmentary, detail view of the same in front elevation, with parts broken away;

Fig. 3v is a similar elevational view, with the operating parts shown in a different position;

'Figl i is "a View, similar to Fig. 2, showing a modification i Fig. 5 is a--view,. similarto Fig. 4, showing the 5- This portion of my jaws of the Fig. 4 modification in an open position;

Figs. 6 and 7 are respectively views in front elevation, illustrating another modification, with the parts shown in closed and in open position respectively;

Figs. 8 and 9 are similar views in front elevation showing the closed and open positions of a modified form of shelf reacher, somewhat like that of Figs. 6 and 7, but having supporting hooks formed on link members of the reacher head, instead of upon extensions of the jaw members thereof;

Figs. 10 and 11 illustrate, in closed and open positions respectively, still another modification in which the hook member is fixed upon the staff and serves as the main support for jaw members of considerable length;

Figs. 12 and 13 illustrate a similarly disposed pair of jaws and support, the hooks being, however, formed upon short extensions of the jaw members.

In a now-preferred embodiment of the invention, as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the part designated by the reference character S is the staff of the shelf reacher, and each such staff in the several forms of the invention illustrated in the drawings is similarly designated. So, also, the reference characters H H designate handle members mounted pivotally upon the staff at regions thereof suitable for convenient swinging manipulation, and the reference character R, wherever found, designates a connecting rod, wire or member connected hingedly with each handle, as at 1 in the several views, the wire being extended toward the head of the staff, where it passes through an eye E which serves the double function of a bearing for the rod, and of a means for transfixing a headplate P inserted in the head of the staff, and the ferrule F by which the end of the stafif is reinforced and the headplate held in place.

At T the headplate P is transfixed by a rivet which serves as a pivot for the jaw members J and J the terminals 7' of which may desirably be fitted with sleeves of elastic material, as shown, this provision being known for such devices, it being understood that the jaw members and jaw terminals or grips may be of any form, either conventional, or suitable for the intended use. In the illustrated form shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the jaw members are provided with extensions IE! which, in pursuance of the invention, are formed at their free ends with talons T, and each of these talons serves as a hook by which the shelf reacher can be hung bodily from the margin of a shelf, as at M, or upon any other suitable support, when the jaws are in their open, idle position, as shown in Fig. 3.

When so hung up, the reacher naturally assumes a position in which the handles H, H" stand parallel with the edges of the shelves M. M, and ,so do not interfere with the passing clerks, andin this respect provision is. made for a marked improvement in the disposition of the reacher when not in use, as compared with any disposition thereof possible when the reacher is only provided with the conventional type of hook shown at C in Figs. 1, 2 and 3. The structure illustrated in these figures, with the exception of the talons T, is like that disclosed in my aforesaid patent, including the links L by which the jaws are operated through the medium of the handle-rod R, the upper end T" thereof being bent to transfix the links, and this bent portion being so disposed as to enter and play vertically in the guide slot 11 formed in the headplate P, all as set forth in my aforesaid patent.

It will be noted that my presently disclosed structure provides for an unusually wide spread of the jaws and of their grips 7', so that boxes and other articles of considerable breadth can be grasped readily and removed from high places upon the shelves with ease and safety, the linkage L being such as to enable a powerful gripping leverage to be applied to the handle H, and this gripping action is furthered by the substantially right-angle projection of the jaw grips 7' relatively tothe major axis of the staff. This reacher can be used, however, to manipulate very small articles, as will be understood very clearly upon taking into account the close approach to each other of the jaws, as shown in Fig. 2. By tying the jaws together (for example, by slipping a stout elastic band over them), when in this position, the talons T can be folded in closely toward the shaft, and so it is possible to avoid an undesirable catching of the talons in adjacent parts of other reachers when the same are bundled for shipment.

It will, of course, be understood that the provision of the talons T, in accordance with the present invention, makes it unnecessary to use the conventional hook C, but that the presence of the latter is optional, as the talons and hook can be used upon the same reacher without interference with each other, at different times, and each affords a convenient means for hooking and toppling down from the shelves any article which lends itself readily to such manipulation, in the exercise of which the clerks are proficient.

Having thus described a particular, and nowpreferred, physical embodiment of the invention, it is accordingly to be understood that this form is merely illustrative, and not limitative, as it does not exhaust the possible physical embodiments of the said idea of means underlying the invention, for which reason I have illustrated in the drawings several possible modifications of the invention, which can be understood with but brief description in view of the more detailed description already set forth.

' For example, in Figs. 4 and 5, I have shown an embodiment of the invention which may be employed usefully if itis preferred, for any reason, to provide the supporting talons or hooks as a fixed part of the staff structure, rather than upon a movable part, such as the jaws or links. The talons-T in Figs. 4 and 5 are formed integrally with the headplate P and conventional headplate hook C', but otherwise they operate just like the talons T shown in Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive, already described.

So, also, in Figs. .0 and 11, I have illustrated talons T" formed as parts of a staff-head-memher or headplate P, and these talons, inthis instance, serve to support the members L", which may be regarded either as jaw members or as link members, the grip members G being formed as separate parts in this instance, secured to the members L", as by rivets H.

The members L are mounted pivotally, as at l2, upon the shanks of the talons, and link members 13, forming a toggle, are connected pivotally, as at M, to the free end of a connecting rod R", which is spring-biased, as by a compression coil spring l5, to an open position of the members L" and grips G. Fig. 10 shows these parts in closed position, when the handle H" is pressed inward toward the shaft S".

In each of the remaining modifications illustrated, viz., those ilustrated in Figs. 8 and 9; and those shown in Figs. 6 and 7; and those shown in Figs. 12 and 13; the talons are formed on some one or other of the movable parts of thejaw and link structure, as follows:

In Figs. 6 and 7, the jaw members J3 are supported pivotally, as at It, upon a cross-piece ll,- fixed at i8 upon a headplate P3 like'that 'deset forth, and the present invention comprisesthe provision of reachers of this type with talons or hooks at suitable points to carry into effect the general purpose of the invention, viz., to avoid the undesirable projection of the handle operating the jaws, such as that already described, into the aisle of a store.

This is accomplished, in the instance illustrated in Figs. 6 and '7, by the talons T4, formed at what may be termed the elbows of the movable parts, and these talons make it possible to gain the advantages of the invention in this type of reacher,

just as with the other types. In this instance, it will be observed that the talon in use operates, as shown in Fig. 6, in the closed position of the reacher, when it is not in use.

In the modification shown in Figs. 12 and 13, a similar arrangement of talons is provided, as at T5, the support for the jaws J being shown at 23, with pivots 24,.somewhat similar to the kind of support shown at F in Figs. 4 and 5. The link members .25 form a toggle which is biased by a coil spring 26 under compression to an open position, from which it may be actuated to closed trated.

Referring now again to Fig. 1 of the drawings, attention is called to a feature of the invention to which brief reference has been made in the opening paragraphs as intended to provide means for affording positive support to the staiT of the shelf reacher at times when the grip of the user upon the operating handle has been relaxed, and when the attention of the user is directed to manipulation of the article removed from the shelves by the reacher; such provision appearing in Fig.

1 in the form of a yoke member Y secured to the staff, as by a screw 389, in such position that it will be readily and naturally engaged with the hand of a user when grasping one'of the handles, as H or 1-1.

At such times, the yoke is adapted to be rested in the crotch between the thumb and forefinger of 'of thestaif diametrically opposite, or nearly so,

to the pivot point of one of the handles, and there will be preferably provided one of these yokes adjacent to each of the handles, for the yoke-in use serves, when so placed, to relieve the fingers of the user from carrying the entire load,

:making the gripping action easier, and the entire manipulation more assured and safer.

I claim:

1. A shelf reacher characterized by a staff, a pair of jaws mounted pivotally on said staff near one end thereof, a handle mounted pivotally on said staff at a region intermediate its ends and connected operatively with said jaws by links; said reacher being further characterized by having said handle extending angularly from said staff, and also by having a hanging means comprising a talon or hook member adjacent to said jaws and extending away from said staff in a direction substantially at right angles to a plane passing through the longitudinal axis of said staff and handle, whereby said reacher is adapted to behung from the shelves by said hook member and is biased thereby to assume aposition with said handle in substantial parallelism with the front plane of the shelves.

2. A- shelf reacher characterized by a staff, a pair of jaws mounted pivotally on said staff near one end thereof, a handle mounted pivotally on said staff .at a region intermediate its ends and connected, operatively with said jaws by links; said reacher being further characterized by having said jaws provided with gripping parts extending angularly from said staff, and by having said handle also extending angularly from said staff, and also by having a hanging means comprising a talon or hook member adjacent to said jaws and extending away from said staff in a direction substantially at right angles to a plane, passingthrough the longitudinal axis of said staff and said handle, whereby said reacher is adapted to be hung upon the shelves by said book member and isbiased thereby to assume a position with said handle insubstantial parallelism With the frontplane of the shelves.

3. A shelf reacher characterized by a staff, a pair of jaws mounted pivotally on said staff near one end thereof, a handle mounted pivotally on said staff at a region intermediate its ends and connected operatively with said jaws by links; said reacher being further characterized by having said jaws provided with gripping parts extending angularly from said staff, and by having said handleextending angularly from said staff at the same side as said jaws, and also by having a hanging means comprising a hookmember adjacent to said. jaws and extending away from said staff in a direction substantially at right angles to a plane passing through the longitudinal. axis of said staff and handle, whereby sa'id reacher is adapted to be hung from the shelves by said hook-member and is biased thereby to assume a position with said handle in substantial parallelism with the front plane of the shelves.

4. A shelf reacher including a stalf a pair of jaws connected co operatively by links, said jaws, being mounted pivotally on said staff near one end thereof, a handle mounted swingingly on said staff at a region remote from said jaws and connected operatively with said jaws, and a hook member by which said reacher may be hung from a shelf mounted in fixed position upon said staff, and extending therefrom in a plane at right angles to that in which said handle swings.

5. A. shelf reacher including a staff, a pair of jaws connected co-operatively by links, said jaws being mounted pivotally on said staff near one end thereof, a handle mounted swingingly on said staff at a region remote from said jaws and connected operatively with said jaws, and a plurality of hook-members, by any of which said reacher may be hung from a shelf and extending from the staff in a plane at right angles to that in which said handle swings.

6. A shelf reacher including a staff, a pair of jaws connected co-operatively by links, said jaws being mounted pivotally upon said staff near one end thereof, a handle mounted swingingly on said staff at a region remote from said jaws and connected operatively with said jaws, and a hookrrember by which said reacher may be hung from a shelf, said reacher being also characterized by having said hook-member formed integrally with one of said pivoted parts.

7. A shelf reacher characterized by the elements combined and co-operating as set forth in claim 1, and further characterized by having a hook device formed integrally with a plurality of the pivoted parts. I

8. A shelf reacher characterized by a staff, a handle mounted pivotally on said staff at a regin intermediate its ends, a pair of jaws mounted pivotally on said staff near one end thereof and connected operatively with said handle by a set of links and by a rod extending along said staff. said reacher being further characterized by a plurality of hook members including a hook extending from said staif adjacent to said jaws and in a direction opposite to that of said handle, and a hook extending from the staff at right angles thereto.

9. A shelf reacher characterized by a staff, a pair of jaws mounted pivotally on said staff near one end thereof, a handle mounted pivotally on said staff at a region intermediate its ends and connected operatively with said jaws by links said reacher being also characterized by having a plurality of hook-members including a hook 'extending from said staff adjacent to said jaws pair of jaws mounted pivotally on said staff near one end thereof, a handle mounted pivotally on said staff at a region intermediate its ends and connected operatively with said jaws, said reacher being further characterized by having a projecting member fixed to said staff near, and extending downwardly and oppositely from, said handle, and adapted to be rested in the crotch between the thumb and forefinger of a users hand for supporting the device thereon,

11. A shelf reacher characterized by a staff, jaws mounted pivotally on said staff near one end thereof, a plurality of handles mounted pivotally on said staff at regions spaced from said jaws, and connected respectively with said jaws, whereby the jaws may be actuated by either of the handles, said reacher being further characterized by having a projecting member fixed to said staff near, and extending downwardly and oppositely from, each of said handles, and each of said projecting members being adapted to be rested in the crotch between the thumb and forefinger of a hand of the user when grasping the adjacent handle for supporting the device thereon.

12. A shelf reacher characterized by the elements combined and co-operating as set forth in claim 1, and further characterized by having at least one of said pivoted jaw parts formed with a talon-shaped member extending at substantially right angles to said operating handle, and adapted to serve as the hook for hanging up said reacher.

13. A reacher of the class described and characterized by the elements combined and co-operating as set forth in claim 1, said reacher being further characterized by having at least one of said link parts formed with a talon-like member extending at substantially right angles to said operating handle, and adapted to serve as the hook for hanging up said reacher.

14. A shelf reacher including a staff; articleengaging means mounted on the staff at one end thereof; operating means mounted on the staff for actuating the article-engaging means; and shelf-engaging means positioned adjacent the article-engaging means and extending outwardly from the staff at an angle to a plane passing through the staff and the operating means whereby the staff can be suspended on the shelves with the operating means positioned so as to lie substantially parallel with the face of the shelves.

15. A shelf reacher including a staff; a pair of jaws pivotally mounted on the staff near one end thereof; a handle mounted on the staff to extend outwardly therefrom substantially perpendicularly to the plane of the jaws and adapted to be operatively connected to the jaws for actuating the same; and talon-like means formed on the jaws and extending outwardly from the staff at an angle of substantially 90 .to a plane passing through the staff and the handle thereon.

16. A shelf reacher, including a staff; a pair of jaws pivotally mounted intermediate their ends on the staff and having article-gripping means formed at one endthereof'; a handle pivoted on the staff; and means including links operatively connecting the handle to the jaws for operation thereby, the other ends of the jaws being formed with shelf-engaging means whereby the device can be hung on shelves.

17. A shelf reacher, including a staff; a pair of jaws pivotally mounted intermediate their ends on the staff and having article-engaging means formed at one end thereof; a handle pivoted on the staff to move in a plane substantially perpendicular to the plane of movement of the jaws; and means including links operatively connecting the handle with the jaws'for operation thereby, the other end of the jaws, when in inoperative position, projecting to form shelfengaging means whereby the devices can be hung on shelves with the handle substantially parallel to the front of the shelves.

JULIUS PEDERSEN. 

